South Boston Civic Organizations File a Complaint Against the City Council re: redistricting

The Boston Herald is reporting that a group of South Boston civic organizations filed an open-meeting law complaint against the city council.  They believe the city council redistricting process so far has been conducted in violation of state laws and guided by an effort to dilute the power of the neighborhood’s votes. The coalition includes the South Boston Ward 6 Democratic Committee, South Boston Citizens Association, Martin F. McDonough American Legion Post, St. Vincent’s Lower End Neighborhood Association and Old Colony Tenant Association.

According to the article, the complaint cites three instances where too many councilors met without public notice: Oct. 10 in the Bolling Building, Oct. 18 outside of City Hall in a press conference and Oct. 19 at the Condon School.  10 of the 13 councilors were named in the complaint— everyone besides Kenzie Bok, Gigi Coletta and Kendra Lara.

The South Boston civic organizations are seeking that the city council conduct a minimum of five properly noticed public hearings in neighborhoods impacted by the proposal including South Boston, Dorchester, Mattapan, South End and Roslindale neighborhoods before the council votes on redistricting.

Early this week, a group of neighborhood associations released a statement to oppose any redistricting map that further separates the South Boston neighborhood. An emergency meeting was held to discuss dividing South Boston into two districts. Here’s a recap. 

You can read more about this situation here. 

Make sure to Follow Herald Reporter Sean Philip Cotter for more redistricting news via twitter. 

Image of I and 4th via Bostonsbrownie on Instagram